Control circuit for motor-drive cameras

ABSTRACT

A circuit is disclosed for controlling the drive motor of a motor driven camera in a single frame shot mode, A continuous shooting mode and a bulb mode. The circuit includes provision for controlling the camera from a plurality of positions. A release circuit controls the motor until the shutter is released. Then a film winding circuit controls. The time constant of the film winding circuit may be varied to control the duration between successive shots in a continuous shot mode. For a single shot mode, the film winding circuit is effectively blocked from operating the motor until the release button is no longer depressed.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates a motor driven camera, and more particularly to a control circuit for a motor-driven camera, which enables control under several operational modes, such as a single frame shot mode or a continuous shot mode from any of a plurality of positions or control stations.

It is well known to provide motor drive mechanisms for cameras. Typically such mechanisms include a motor which is controlled in its on and off states by the operator. When the motor is on it actuates a sequence of operations as follows; the shutter release operation is initiated, the film is wound and the release is reset or cocked. For continuous shot operation the motor continues to rotate to repeat the sequence until the operator turns off the motor by removing his finger from a control button or the like. For single shot operation the motor automatically stops after each film winding operation and remains stopped until the operator initiates a new operation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a control circuit for a motor of a motor driven camera which control circuit allows selection of continuous operation or single shot operation.

It is a further object to provide such a circuit which also is compatable with bulb operation.

It is a further object to provide such a circuit which can selectively vary the duration between shots during continuous shot operation.

It is a still further object to provide such a circuit which can be independently controlled from a plurality of locations or positions.

These objects are achieved by providing a circuit wherein a relay for controlling energization of the motor which drives the camera is switched between a release circuit and a film winding circuit. The release circuit energizes the relay when a main switch is closed and when the relay is connected thereto. After the shutter releases, the relay is switched to the film winding circuit. The latter circuit is variable in function. It can prevent energization of the relay until the main switch opens, thereby insuring single shot operation. It can also vary the time between the instant the relay connects with the film winding circuit and the instant the relay is energized, thereby controlling the duration between shots in a continuous shot operation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram showing an example constituting a basic motor drive arrangement to which the present invention is applicable; and

FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram showing an example of a multi-position control circuit according to this invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the invention having a single operative position for explaining the fundamentals of the control circuit, wherein M designates an electric motor which is connected to an electrical power source E through a switch S₇. When a relay RY is not energized, the switch S₇ is placed at a position a short-circuiting the motor M. When the relay RY is energized, the switch S₇ is changed-over to position b where the motor M is connected to the power source E, and the camera is operated through a known type of mechanism, such as that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,448,670 issued to Suzuki on June 10. 1969, to wind the film or carry out the shutter release operation. When the relay RY is again brought back to the deenergized state, the switch S₇ returns to the position a, short-circuiting the motor M and braking it.

In other words, the relay RY and the electric motor M are operated in correspondence with each other. A switch S₆ is operable to transfer between a position a connecting the relay RY to a release circuit and another position b connecting the relay to a film winding circuit, so that the relay RY is controlled by a signal from either one of these circuits. The switch S₆ is transferred by a mechanism as disclosed in the aforementioned U.S. Pat. No. 3,448,670 from the position b to the position a upon the completion of the film winding operation, and from the position a to the position b upon the completion of the release operation.

The release circuit comprises a trigger switch S₁ closed by depression of the camera release button, a reverse-current preventing diode D₁, and the electric power source E. When the switch S₆ is at the position a, connecting relay RY to the release circuit, the relay RY is energized upon depression of the trigger switch S₁, and the electric motor M is rotated to release the shutter through a known mechanism, not shown. By the release of the shutter, the switch S₆ is changed-over to the position b connected to the film winding circuit and the release circuit terminates its operation.

The film winding circuit comprises a first controllable switching means T₄ and the electric power source E. Upon conduction of the first controllable switching means T₄, the relay RY is operated through the switch S₆ to rotate the electric motor M to accomplish the film winding operation. In this embodiment, the switching means T₄ is a transistor which is brought into the OFF state by varying the base current. For this control, the base of the transistor is connected with a control circuit.

In the control circuit for the first controllable switching means T₄, there are provided three switches, one of which is a "bulb" operational switch S₃ ordinarily placed at a position a, but, during a "bulb" operation (holding the camera in an exposed state while the release button is depressed), placed at the position b. A shutter synchro switch S₄ is connected to the position a of the "bulb" operation switch S₃, and is closed by a known type of mechanism, as commonly employed in connection with the "FP" and "X" settings of conventional synchro-flash cameras, only during the exposure period of the shutter. The switching means T₄ is in a nonconducting state when switches S₃ and S₄ are closed, and as a result, the motor M is inoperative during the exposure period of the shutter.

At the time of a "bulb" operation, the shutter should be released by rotating the electric motor M. However, the "bulb" operation switch S₃ must be placed at the position b thereby eliminating the effect of the shutter synchro switch S₄ because the latter switch S₄ operates to keep the motor M at a standstill until the completion of the exposure period. Still another switch S₅ is provided in a circuit connected to the position b of the "bulb" operation switch S₃, and an R-C time-constant circuit is provided in connection with the switch S₅. S₅ is operated from position a to position b upon recovery of the release mechanism and from position b to position a during the film winding operation by a mechanism as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,448,670. Thus, a predetermined duration of stop period is provided after the recovery of the release mechanism thereby to provide a delay time for the subsequent film winding operation so that the recovery of a camera mechanism, not shown (such as the recover of the mirror in the case of a single lens reflex camera), and the bound-stopping period of the camera can be obtained. Such a period is important for preventing erroneous operation of the camera at the time of the "bulb" operation.

In the control circuit, two switching elements (transistors T₁ and T₃) are further provided in parallel with the "bulb" switch S₃. The second controllable switching means, transistor T₁ and switch S₂ control the single shot and continuous shot modes of operation. For single frame shooting S₂ is open as shown. When the shutter release button is depressed and S₁ closes, motor M is energized to initiate the release operation. This occurs because switch S₆ is at terminal a. However, after release, when ₆ moves to position b the relay RY will not energize (and motor M will not initiate rewind operation) because the closure of S₁ renders the second controllable switching means conductive which, in turn, renders T₄ non-conductive. Thus only one shot per button depression is carried out. Circuit means including resistor R connect the switch S₁ to the base of transistor T₁, and this circuit means will render transistor T₁ conductive when S₂ is open and S₁ is closed.

However, when continuous shot operation is desired, switch S₂ is closed. This maintains the second controllable switching means T₁ in a non-conductive state irrespective of the condition of S₁, and thus T₄ and relay RY can be operated to cause the rewind operation to be performed.

Transistor T₃ along with the R-C circuit comprising capacitor C₁ and resistor VR and the discharge circuit comprising transistor T₂ controls the inter-shot duration between successive shots during continuous shot operation. Assuming S₆ is at position a, connecting the relay RY to the release circuit, the closure of S₁ energizes relay RY which operates motor M to initiate the release operation. The flow of current in the release circuit is detected by T₂ which turns on and discharges C₁. Upon completion of the release operation S₆ changes to position b whereby relay RY becomes connected to the film winding circuit. T₂ turns off because of the open circuit of terminal a of switch S₆. Since, at this instant the charge across C₁ is zero or very low, the high voltage from source E appears at the base of T₃ causing T₃ to be conducting and the first controllable switching means T₄ to be non-conducting. The latter keeps RY from being energized. After a time determined by the values of C₁ and VR, T₃ turns off thereby permitting switching means T₄ to turn on and energize relay RY, which in turn energizes motor M to initiate the film winding operation. Alteration of the value of variable resistance VR permits control of the duration between termination of a release operation and initiation of a film winding operation, and concomitantly permits control of the duration between shots.

In FIG. 2, there is indicated a circuit used for operating the control circuit in the "multiposition operation." The circuit of FIG. 2 comprises a plurality of circuit blocks X₁ thru X_(n) connected in parallel, each circuit block being the same as the circuit block designated by X in FIG. 1. The characters in correspondence (such as A-A', B-B', C-C', and D-D') in FIGS. 1 and 2 are connected together, respectively. Since the operations of the switches in FIG. 2 are similar to those of the corresponding switches in the circuit of FIG. 1, a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

The operation in various modes thereof will now be described in detail.

(I) Single frame shot operation

S₂ is open. Closing the trigger switch S₁, the relay RY is energized through the release circuit and the switch S₆ (a position), and the electric motor M is thereby rotated. The shutter of the camera is released, and simultaneously therewith the switch S₆ is transferred to the b position. Because of the operation of the second controllable switching means T₁ (this means is in the conducting state because the switch S₂ is open and the switch S₁ is closed), the first controllable switching means T₄ is brought into the non-conducting state. Since the film winding circuit is thus in the OFF state, the electric motor M stops. When the trigger switch S₁ is opened, the switching means T₁ becomes non-conductive. Since the trigger switch S₁ is opened, the time-constant capacitor C₁ is not charged, and hence the transistor T₃ is in OFF state.

When the shutter is in the exposing state, the shutter synchro switch S₄ closes thereby placing the film winding circuit in the OFF state. After a predetermined time, exposure terminates due to the shutter mechanism of the camera (not shown), and the switch S₄ is opened, thus placing the entire control circuit for the switching means T₄ in the OFF state, and first controllable switching means T₄ conducts. The relay RY is energized through the switch S₆ (b position), the motor M is rotated, and the releasing mechanism (not shown) is thereby set and the film winding mechanism is operated. Upon completion of the film winding operation, the switch S₆ is transferred by a mechanism not shown from the position b to the position a. The release circuit is OFF because the trigger switch S₁ is open, and the relay RY is de-energized to stop the electric motor M, thus completing one cycle of the single frame shot operation of the camera.

The latter description is given as if the switch S₁ opens before the exposure terminates. However if exposure terminates first, S₄ will open but the second controllable switching means T₁ will still be conducting and thus the first controllable switching means T₄ will be non-conducting and the relay RY will not be energized. The camera will remain in the standstill mode until switch S₁ is opened. Then switching means T₁ will turn off, switching means T₄ will conduct, RY will be energized and the motor will operate to carry out the film winding operation.

(II) Continuous shot operation

For continuous shot operation, the switch S₂ must be closed. At the time the trigger switch S₁ is closed, the relay RY is energized through the release circuit, thus rotating the electric motor M and releasing the shutter as in the case of the single frame shot operation. The switch S₆ is thus transferred from the position a to the position b connected to the film winding circuit. Although in the single frame shot operation, the operation of the control circuit has been terminated at this point by the conduction of the second controllable switching means T₁, in the continuous shot operation, the switching means T₁ is in the OFF state regardless of the operation of the trigger switch S₁ because of the closed condition of switch S₂. A current limited by the variable resistor VR flows into the capacitor C₁ of the time-constant circuit. At this time the transistor T₃ is kept in conductive state until the voltage across the capacitor C₁ exceeds a predetermined value. On the other hand, a function preventing the film winding operation during the exposure time of the shutter is provided by the shutter synchro switch S₄ interlinked with the shutter, and hence the control circuit of the first controllable switching means T₄ remains in the OFF state until the delay time ends or the exposure terminates, whichever occurs last. Thereafter, the switching means T₄ turns ON energizing the relay RY through the film winding circuit, rotating the electric motor M, setting the release, and winding the film. Upon completion of the film winding operation, the switch S₆ is transferred to the position a connected to the release circuit. If the trigger switch S₁ is held closed, the relay RY is again energized through the release circuit, rotating the electric motor M, releasing the shutter, and repeating the above described operations thereby carrying out the continuous shot operation.

The continuous shot operation terminates by the opening of the trigger switch S₁. The opening of the same switch S₁ at once terminates the continuous shot operation if the switch S₆ is at the position a connected to the release circuit. If the switch S₆ is at the position b the operation terminates after completion of film winding and changing-over of the switch S₆ to the position a. At this time, since the trigger switch S₁ is open, the time-constant capacitor C₁ is not charged and hence the transistor T₃ is kept OFF. Thus, when the shutter synchro switch S₄ opens upon completion of the exposure, the film winding circuit instantaneously operates. This means that in the case the shot interval is selected by the time-constant circuit to be comparatively long, nevertheless it is possible to shorten the interval between a first series of continuous shots and a second series of continuous shots by simply opening and then reclosing switch S₁. (III) "Bulb" Operation

'Bulb" operation is considered to be one kind of single shot operation, but differs from ordinary single shot operation in that there is no time-determining element for exposure except the manual holding of the release button. For this reason, the continuous shot operation switch S₂ is open, the "bulb" switch S₃ is placed at the position b, and the shutter synchro switch S₄ is made inoperative. The operation is quite similar to that of the single frame shot. Upon closure of the trigger switch S₁, the relay RY is operated through the release circuit thereby releasing the shutter. Since the shutter mechanism of the camera is set for the "bulb" operation by conventional mechanism, the shutter is kept open during the release operation. When the trigger switch S₁ opens, the motor M starts to rotate because the shutter synchro switch S₄ has been made inoperative, thus resetting the shutter release mechanism. As a result, the switch S₅ is caused to change-over from the position a to the position b connecting the time-constant capacitor C₂ in the circuit of the first controllable switching means T₄. Thus, the switching means T₄ is kept OFF for a preset period by the time constant circuit, and the motor M is stopped. Since, in the single lens reflex camera, the automatic aperture control mechanism and the mirror operating mechanism are activated after the completion of the shutter operation, a rest period required after the resetting of the release in the "bulb" operation is longer than that required in the ordinary time releasing operation. The time-constant circuit provides this rest period only in the case of the "bulb" operation. After termination of this period, the film winding operation is initiated for completing the "bulb" operation after the completion of the film winding operation.

(IV) Multiposition Operation

In this case the control blocks X₁ through X_(n) are connected to corresponding points of the circuit as previously described. Inasmuch as each of the blocks X₁ through X_(n) in FIG. 2 is identical to block X in FIG. 1, it is possible to independently control the camera operation by any one of the blocks X₁ through X_(n) by placing the mechanisms for closing switches S₁ ^(1-S) ₁ ^(n) at many locations, respectively. The diodes D₁ in each block prevent current which results from closure of a single switch S₁ from entering the other blocks. An example will illustrate the independece of the blocks. Assume X₁ (or at least S₁ of X₁) is at a first location, and X₂ (or at least S₁ of X₂) is at a second location. Further assume S₂ of X₁ is open for single shot operation and S₂ of X₂ is closed for continuous shot operation. In this case closure of S₁ of X₁ results in single shot operation. When the latter switch closes the first controllable switching means T₁ of X₁ is conducting so that film rewind cannot occur until S₁ opens. At this time X₂ will have no effect. On the other hand if S₁ of X₂ is operated by closing same (S₁ of X₁ is open if control is at X₂) the operation will be continuous shot operation because first controllable switching means T₁ of X₂ will remain off and allow T₃, VR and C₁ of the film wind circuit to control the time of film winding. It is noted that even though S₂ of X₁ is open, T₁ of X₁ will have no effect on the operation because diode D₁ of X₁ prevents current in the release circuit, caused by closing S₁ of X₂, from turning on T₁ of X₁. Thus multiposition independent control is possible.

It should be noted that if only single position control is used, diode D₁ is not required.

Thus, in the unit-body construction of the motordrive camera containing the control circuit, any of the single frame shot, continuous shot, and "bulb" shot operations can be carried out with the motor driven in synchromism with the shutter operation. When a plurality of control blocks having a simple construction are connected in parallel, a multi-position operation transferable between single frame shot and continuous shot is available.

Furthermore, since the shutter synchronous circuit and the shot-interval variation circuit are connected in parallel, continuous shot operation with preset shot interval can be maintained in the normal condition, and even in the case where the shutter speed of the camera is set at an improperly slow value, there is no possibility of winding the film during the exposure, thereby maintaining normal operation with the shot interval elongated automatically. Such a feature is particularly effective in the camera having an automatic exposure adjusting function.

Thus, according to the present invention, there is provided a control circuit for motor drive cameras which is applicable in wide fields and capable of operating in continuous shot operation and multiposition operation. In the continuous shot operation, the control circuit permits to maintain a shot interval ordinarily, and even in the case where the setting of the shot interval is improper, incorrect exposure will not result. What is claimed is: 

1. A control circuit for a motor driven camera comprising, a power source, a motor for driving said camera, and relay means for controlling the energization of said motor, a release circuit, a film winding circuit, operational switch means for switching said relay between said release circuit and said film winding circuit to thereby transfer the control of energization of said relay between said release and film winding circuits, trigger switch means S₁ for switchably connecting said release circuit to said power source for energizing said relay when it is connected to said release circuit, said film winding circuit comprising a first controllable switching means for switchably connecting said relay to said power source when said relay is connected to said film winding circuit, second controllable switching means connected to said first controllable switching means for preventing, when in a first switching state, said first controllable switching means from connecting said relay to said power source, circuit means connected to said trigger switch and said second controllable switch means for applying a signal to place said latter switch in said first state when said trigger switch is operated, and a continuous shot/single shot mode select switch connected to said second controllable switching means for blocking the application of said signal to said second controllable switch means when said mode select switch is in a first, single shot position, whereby the position of said mode select switch determines whether said motor is energized in a continuous shot mode operation or a single shot mode operation.
 2. A control circuit as claimed in claim 1 wherein said trigger switch, said second controllable switching means, said circuit means, and said mode select switch constitute a control block, and wherein said control circuit further comprises a plurality of said control blocks connected in parallel with each other for independently controlling the mode and operating condition of said control circuit, each said control block further comprising a unilateral conducting means connected between the respective control block trigger switch and a common connection point of said release circuit to prevent current in said release circuit from backing into any of said control blocks.
 3. A control circuit as claimed in claim 1 wherein said film winding circuit further comprises a shutter syncro switch, adapted to be connected in parallel with said second controllable switching means, for preventing, when so connected, the said first controllable switching means from connecting said relay to said power source during the exposure duration of said shutter.
 4. A control circuit as claimed in claim 2 wherein said film winding circuit further comprises a shutter syncro switch, adapted to be connected in parallel with said second controllable switching means, for preventing, when so connected, the said first controllable switching means from connecting said relay to said power source during the exposure duration of said shutter.
 5. A control circuit as claimed in claim 1 wherein said film winding circuit further comprises a variable time constant inter-shot duration control means connected to said first controllable switching means for preventing said first controllable switching means from connecting said relay to said power source for a controllable variable period of time after said operation switch connects said relay to said film winding circuit.
 6. A control circuit as claimed in claim 2 wherein said film winding circuit further comprises a variable time constant inter-shot duration control means connected to said first controllable switching means for preventing said first controllable switching means from connecting said relay to said power source for a controllable variable period of time after said operation switch connects said relay to said film winding circuit.
 7. A control circuit as claimed in claim 5 wherein said variable time constant inter-shot duration control means is connected to said release circuit and energized only when said trigger switch is operated whereby said time constant means is inoperable when said trigger switch is open, said time constant means comprising an RC circuit adapted to begin charging and start the said period in response to said relay being connected to said film winding circuit, and resetting means for resetting said RC circuit in response to said relay being connected to said release circuit.
 8. A control circuit as claimed in claim 6 wherein said variable time constant inter-shot duration control means is connected to said release circuit and energized only when said trigger switch is operated whereby said time constant means is inoperable when said trigger switch is open, said time constant means comprising an RC circuit adapted to begin charging and start the said period in response to said relay being connected to said film winding circuit, and resetting means for resetting said RC circuit in response to said relay being connected to said release circuit.
 9. A control circuit as claimed in claim 7 wherein said film winding circuit further comprises a shutter synchro switch, adapted to be connected in parallel with said second controllable switching means, for preventing, when so connected, the said first controllable switching means for connecting said relay to said power source during the exposure duration of said shutter, whereby the second controllable switching means has priority over said synchro switch and said time constant means in controlling said first controllable switching means provided said mode select switch is in the single shot mode position, and whereby the priority of control of said synchro switch and said time constant means depends on whether said exposure time or said variable period is longer, provided said mode select switch is in the continuous mode position.
 10. A control circuit as claimed in claim 8 wherein said film winding circuit further comprises a shutter synchro switch, adapted to be connected in parallel with said second controllable switching means, for preventing, when so connected, the said first controllable switching means from connecting said relay to said power source during the exposure duration of said shutter, whereby the second controllable switching means has priority over said synchro switch and said time constant means in controlling said first controllable switching means provided said mode select switch is in the single shot mode position, and whereby the priority of control of said synchro switch and said time constant means depends on whether said exposure time or said variable period is longer, provided said mode select switch is in the continuous mode position.
 11. A control circuit as claimed in claim 9 further comprising a bulb operation time constant circuit in parallel with said synchro switch and a bulb operation select switch for selectively connecting only one of the synchro switch and bulb operation time constant circuits to said first controllable switching means.
 12. A control circuit as claimed in claim 10 further comprising a bulb operation time constant circuit in parallel with said synchro switch and a bulb operation select switch for selectively connecting only one of the synchro switch and bulb operation time constant circuits to said first controllable switching means. 